Friday, August 04, 2000

CHEMICAL SPILL DUE TO TANKER COLLISION NEAR PULAU UBIN: ENV ADVISES PUBLIC TO STAY OFF WATERS AVA SUSPENDS FISH HARVEST FROM FARMS IN THE AREA

Following the chemical spill at the sea channel near Pulau Ubin early this morning, the Ministry of the Environment officials have taken samples of the waters around the incident site for analysis. So far no dead fish has been found in the sea around the incident site.

As the waters are likely to be contaminated, ENV would like to advise members of the public not to fish or swim in the waters near Pulau Ubin, Changi, Pasir Ris, Loyang, and Punggol, until further notice.

As a further precautionary measure, Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has immediately suspended the harvesting and sale of all fish from the 25 fish farms located in the areas affected by the chemical spill. These 25 farms supply less than 1% of our total fish supply of 100,000 tonnes a year.

AVA and ENV will monitor the situation closely. AVA will only lift the suspension on the harvesting and sale of the fish from these farms when we are confident that the fish are safe for consumption.

Issued by : Ministry of the Environment and Agri-food and Veterinary Authority

The analysis of the first batch of seawater samples taken from in and around the collision site of the tanker, Hikari 2, and the dredger, Volvax Delta off Pulau Ubin indicates that the phenol spilt from the tanker has been diluted and dispersed by seawater. The phenol level at the incident site was 9.4 mg/l at 11.25 am and was reduced to "Not Detected" at 1.40 pm today.

A reading of 0.3 mg/l and below is considered safe. The phenol levels at Pasir Ris, Punggol and Changi Point are within the safe limits. ENV will continue to test the seawater samples and update the public. As a precaution, the public are advised not to fish or swim in these areas until further notice.

ENV has been monitoring the seawater quality following the marine incident off Pulau Ubin. No phenol has been detected in the samples of seawaters taken at Punggol, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin and Changi Point between 8.45 am and 11.15 am today.